A decent field here and at the top end of the market I do fancy BALINESKER BEACH over My Tickeyboo. My Ticketyboo won unexpectedly over Course and Distance last week, all out at the line and although a fine win the 7lbs penalty and toughness of the race and feel that everything fell absolutely right on the day points me to the Neil Mulholland trained BALINESKER BOY who met problems in running last time out but stayed on resolutely and it has won a 2 and a half mile P2P race in the past so no real stamina concerns.

 

Gavroche D'Allier has also got P2P form over 3 miles but very mixed messages on that one in terms of the right trip and it doesn't seem great value at the price. Abingworth makes handicap debut for the always dangerous Gary Moore in his backyard but so far no real signs its up to winning this. West Orchard for the Tizzards is very consistent, finishing 4th in its last 3 runs but its been beaten an average of 15 lengths in those 3 races so may be a place is best you can hope for. 

 

Annie Day has a Course win off a mark of 82 prior to an 18 month break and would be the one I think is the biggest danger to my final selections. Newtonian for OLiver Sherwood has been bought along patiently and has shown a few glimpses of ability but after a couple of Falls it dropped out tamely last time and was reported to have "bled from the nose" so I think we have to see a completion and a healthy horse before investing.

 

I do like the place chances of FOLLOW THAT and GAIA VALLIS at nice prices. FOLLOW THAT has solid place form off marks up to the mid 80's and is a horse that seems to travel well before not finding a great deal, I do think these hands and heels races suit such types of horse who may shy away from the whip and gain confidence when they realise there is no whip here. GAIA VALLIS has won off marks of 83 and 88 get the right trip and a decent jockey and in Going too that will suit looks ideally handicapped off a mark of 88 with a 3lbs claim